Official Universal Orlando countdown watchlist (and what we’d add)
What movies should you watch as a countdown to your Universal Orlando vacation? These films will get you excited for your trip.
After perusing Walt Disney World’s official vacation countdown watchlist, naturally a question follows: Does Universal have a watchlist? Turns out the company mapped out a list of recommended films to “relive your favorite park moments” on the Discover Universal Blog, an official online publication of Universal Orlando Resort. The list was published in 2020 and has since been updated with newer titles.
Below is a list of which movies Universal suggests watching in connection with the parks. We’ve sorted them into which theme park they represent (Universal Studios Florida or Universal Islands of Adventure) and discussed if they’re worth your while — plus we’ve added a few other movies and TV shows we felt should be included.
Universal Studios Florida
Universal recommends:
- “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)
- “The Mummy” (1999)
- “Harry Potter” films (2001-2011)
- “Despicable Me” (2010)
- “Trolls” (2016)
- “Trolls World Tour” (2020)
- “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (2022)
“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial“ is a quintessential Universal film and emblematic of a Universal Orlando vacation. For starters, the movie was directed by Steven Spielberg and scored by John Williams, a combination repeated many times in film and present in multiple Universal Orlando attractions — including, of course, E.T. Adventure.
“The Mummy” preps the prospective visitor of the layered storytelling of the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster … not to mention, the Brendan Fraser of it all will be much more appreciated once you get to Orlando.
“Despicable Me” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru” are represented throughout Minions Land, as are their companion films. If you only have time for one movie in the series, go with the original “Despicable Me.”
Watching all eight “Harry Potter” movies is a bit ambitious. If you’ve never seen any of them and you (understandably) can’t commit to watching all of them before your Universal vacation, watch “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” As the first movie in the series, it lays the foundation well, and prominently features Diagon Alley, the setting of Universal Studios Florida’s side of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
If you’ve seen all the movies before and just want to watch one of them to get you hype for this park, go with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” the final installment in the series and the one during which this park’s centerpiece Potter attraction, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, takes place.
“Trolls” and “Trolls World Tour” seem a bit random for a Universal Orlando countdown watchlist, but will be less of a wildcard once DreamWorks Land opens in summer 2024. The kid-focused area will feature Trolls Trollercoaster, a kiddie coaster.
We’d add:
- Any episode of “The Simpsons” (1989-present)
- “Men In Black” (1997)
- “The Bourne Identity” (2004)
- Clips from “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (2014-present)
Behind “Harry Potter” and “Despicable Me,” “The Simpsons” is the third most-represented franchise in Universal Studios Florida, featured prominently in the Springfield area with multiple attractions. Other productions might be fun to get excited for your trip, but aren’t necessarily crucial to be familiar with, as their attractions provide plenty of context: “Men In Black” for Men In Black Alien Attack, “The Bourne Identity” (or any “Bourne” film, really) for The Bourne Stuntacular, and YouTube clips from “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” for Race Through New York starring Jimmy Fallon.
If you’re visiting during Halloween Horror Nights season, find a movie that corresponds with one of the event’s haunted houses.
Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal recommends:
- “Jurassic Park” trilogy (1993-2001)
- “Harry Potter” films (2001-2011)
- “Jurassic World” trilogy (2015-2022)
Unless you’re just really hype about all things “Jurassic Park,” you needn’t watch every movie in both trilogies, but watching the first volume in both series provides some fun context for the duality represented in the Jurassic Park island within Islands of Adventure. Jurassic Park River Adventure mirrors the ’90s vibe of the original while Jurassic World VelociCoaster is reflective of the more sleek, modern aesthetic of the sequel trilogy — not only in the tone of the story, but the technology utilized throughout.
Similarly, don’t worry if you don’t have time to brush up on all eight “Harry Potter” movies prior to visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. As with the Diagon Alley counterpart in the park next door, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is a sufficient introduction to Hogwarts, Harry, etc. As for Hogsmeade and Hagrid, the village and the half-giant, respectively, are both prominently featured in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” the third film, providing more than enough hype for the shops of Hogsmeade as well as Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
We’d add:
- Any vintage Popeye cartoon (1933-1957)
- Any vintage Dudley Do-Right cartoon (1959-1970)
- Any episode of “Spider-Man” (1994-1998)
- “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
While less proportionately featured in Islands of Adventure than “Jurassic World” or “Harry Potter,” the animated exploits of vintage characters Popeye and Dudley Do-Right are both afforded their own rides in Toon Lagoon: Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. Both can be enjoyed with little to no context for their titular characters, but those wanting to familiarize themselves can do so by seeking out cartoons on Amazon Prime Video.
To prep for Marvel Super Hero Island, you might first naturally might turn to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but the comic-esque aesthetic of Marvel’s presence in Islands of Adventure is better reflected in various animated television series rather than live-action movies. In particular, “Spider-Man,” the classic animated show of the ’90s, is an excellent prerequisite to experiencing The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. It’s currently available on Disney+.
If your visit to Islands of Adventure coincides with the holiday season, the 2000 live-action adaptation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is required viewing. The Grinch is a popular fellow at Islands of Adventure during Christmastime, and resembles his Jim Carrey likeness in the park. You can meet the Grinch in his Seuss Landing character greeting location or during a character breakfast, and see him in “The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular,” an annual live stage production.
Universal Orlando Videos
In addition to movies and TV shows, might we also recommend the Attractions Magazine YouTube channel as a source for a Universal Orlando countdown? We have ride POVs, travel tips, and more. Let’s start with a classic: Jurassic Park River Adventure.
Walt Disney World Watchlist
Counting down to a Disney World vacation? See which movies Disney recommends, and which ones we’d add to their list.
If you’re interested in visiting Universal Orlando Resort, we recommend MEI-Travel for a free, no obligation quote and free help throughout your trip.
